Sam Allardyce insists he still respects the FA Cup despite deciding to name a weakened team at Nottingham Forest

Sam Allardyce insists he still respects the FA Cup despite deciding he will name a weakened team in the competition against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, James Collins, James Tomkins, Mark Noble, Ricardo Vaz Te are all injured, Ravel Morrison is struggling with a groin problem and Kevin Nolan is suspended for the FA Cup third round tie.

Stewart Downing, Adrian, Matt Jarvis, Joe Cole and Carlton Cole could all start but Allardyce has confirmed a number of the club’s young players are being escalated into the first team.

Allardyce said: “There is no change of view in terms of the competition. It is a fabulous competition with great history and tradition – there is no doubt about that.

“But if you are in the position we are in and with the injuries we have then there is only one major priority at this football club at all levels – from the owners all the way down.

“That is the Premier League and that won’t ever change at any football club, irrespective of who they are.

“The FA Cup has great history and tradition but at this stage of the season, when we have the third round tie on the back of a heavy, heavy schedule, then it becomes less of a priority, especially if you have a Capital One Cup semi-final against Manchester City up at the Etihad Stadium three days later.”